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She had expected Dale to show surprise--exciteirl turned toward her appalled her The young body trembled under her hand for a moment like a leaf in the storm

"Not--the police!" breathed Dale in tones of utter consternation Miss Cornelia could not understand why the news had stirred her niece so deeply But there was no ti steps on the terrace, the Doctor was returning

"Ssh!" she whispered "It isn't necessary to tell the Doctor I think he's a sort of peraossip--and once it's known the police are here we'll NEVER catch the cri drops of rain fro clothes, Dale was back on her favorite settee and Miss Cornelia was poring over the mysterious ot away in the shrubbery," said the Doctor disgustedly, taking out a handkerchief to fleck the spots of ave hi "Read this," she said

The Doctor adjusted a pair of pince-nez--read the two crude sentences over--once--twice Then he looked shrewdly at Miss Cornelia

"Were the others like this?" he queried

She nodded "Practically"

He hesitated for a moment like a man with an unpleasant social duty to face

"Miss Van Gorder, , I detest frankness," said that lady grio on!"

The Doctor tapped the letter His face holly serious

"I think you ought to leave this house," he said bluntly

"Because of that letter? Huh, htly as possible

The Doctor repressed the obvious annoyance of a iven in all sobriety, unexpectedly taken as a quip

"There is some deviltry afoot," he persisted "You are not safe here, Miss Van Gorder"

But if he was persistent in his attitude, so was she in hers

"I've been safe in all kinds of houses for sixty-odd years," she said lightly "It's tiestured toward her defenses, "this house is as nearly ih, the doors are locked, and the keys are there," she pointed to the keys lying on the table "As for the terrace door you just used," she went on, "I had Billy put an extra bolt on it today By the way, did you bolt that door again?" She moved toward the alcove